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Guide to waxing skis?

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lands11
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 1,677
Hey guys, I have a few pairs of skis I need waxed and I don't want to take them to a shop, too much $$.
I was wondering what materials I need and if anyone can refer me to a really good step-by-step guide, a video would be best. I have never waxed my skis before but it doesn't seem like the most difficult thing. I know this thread is similar to others, so sorry about that. Any tips would be great as well. Also, I will be waxing my pow skis and my park skis if that matters at all. I'll do a trail run on my old park skis first. +K to all who help.
Feb 10 2014 8:38PM
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lands11
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 1,677
I should also probably mention that I have done zero research so far. I figured the good fellas of NS could help me out.
Feb 10 2014 8:45PM
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skidemon22
Posts: 4427 - Karma: 1,955
honestly, i would google ski tuning guide/ tips. there ar ea lot of comprehensive materials to learn from.

but you will need at the very least, an iron to melt wax, wax to be melted, plastic scraper to scrape off excessive wax, a brush to do a rough buffing, and then scotch brite to polish.

types of waxed vary, so do research on what is the best for temps, the type of ski bases you have, the conditions, etc.

also, when brushing, always go one direction, tip to tail. just like brushing a horse
Feb 12 2014 2:00PM
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lands11
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 1,677
Thanks! I had a $100 dollar gift card to REI so I bought am iron, wax, and scraper. The wax I got was basically what you said only I went more with temp than anything. Didn't even think about the types of bases I have.

Also, how important is brushing and what is scotch brite?
Feb 13 2014 12:59PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6674 - Karma: 10,977
For starters, go to swixsport.com and check out their"how to" guides on waxing. This is a good start:
http://project.vbook.no/Alpine-Sport-EN

Remember that wax treats the base material- the more you do it, the faster and stronger your bases will be. You want wax to treat your base, not sit on top of it. This is what brushing is for- it removes the small bits of wax stuck in the structure of your base that scraping leaves behind. Scraping just removes the top, excess layer. Brushing removes the wax from the base structure.
Feb 13 2014 2:36PM
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lands11
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 1,677
Thanks so much for your help.
Feb 13 2014 6:06PM
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thedanimal
Posts: 490 - Karma: 180
Get a cheap iron from Walmart, wax scrapper, all temp wax, a couple blocks of wood to rest the ski on and elastic bands to hold the breakers back. Heat the iron and melt the wax on the ski. As hot as you can until the wax smokes (that's too hot). Keep iron at same temp rub iron along ski to get wax everywy. Let it cool. Scrap wax off
Feb 18 2014 8:29PM
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skienian
Posts: 17 - Karma: 41
Negate the Cheap iron for clothing, you need an iron without the steam holes and a accurate way to control the temperature by degrees. If wax gets too hot you can burn all the gliding properties of it off and not hot enough you don't penetrate the base enough. If you are in the US you can get a good iron cheap, if you are in Canada its tougher as the iron needs to be CSA certified, you may be able to find some that aren't as some shops are risking selling them despite the potential fines for sound so.
Look at a wax companies website for instructions www.holmenkol.com has some great videos on "how to"
Then you need a scraper, and brush oh and some was Holmenkol Beta has a huge temperature range and is a great all round wax for everything.

Feb 18 2014 9:08PM
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perryhunter
Posts: 721 - Karma: -185
This thread seems really helpful, I needed this badly and now I've found it! I'm going to have ski waxing maybe tomorrow.
Feb 24 2014 2:25AM
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skidemon22
Posts: 4427 - Karma: 1,955
Also, let your skis/ the wax cool before you scrape them. as the base material cools, it will contract and the wax will penetrate deeper into the material.

brushing is ver imprtant as it removes the sort of wax 'dust' as i like to call it
Feb 24 2014 10:22AM
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